Hot Rods New un-started 350 crate engine stuck NEED HELP!!!

As they said, undo the converter and slide it back--pull the plugs too-then see if it will turn with and lg screwdriver on the flex plate--if so, then try the starter. It's either hydrolocked or bound up by the converter from the symptoms you describe. Don't try to turn it over with out the plugs removed.

 

I would disconnect the flexplate from the converter first and try spinning it over.

 

^^^ inclination^^^

What the fuck is wrong with you people ?

Engine stuck.
Plugs out
Breaker Bar won't move engine


Oh geeze that's simple, just unbolt the torque converter from the flex plate.

Y'all know a way to unbolt the converter when the engine won't turn ?

I sure miss the old hamb

 

Disconnect the alternator. Had an alternator starting to go on my later model pickup, and it seized when I shut it off to inspect. Engine wouldn't turn over until I disconnected belt. Alternator had seized right up.

 

Go back to square one. Remove the starter and try turning the engine (with plugs out) with a breaker bar. One possibility is that the starter is jammed up against the flex plate. You said you got a 168 tooth flexplate, there are two different starters, one for the smaller flexplate and one for the larger one. How many teeth did the old flexplate have?

My guess is that you have the wrong starter, as I recall, you need the one with the staggered bolt pattern, not the straight across pattern. But at least drop the starter out of there entirely and see what happens.

The more I think about it, I think your starter is jammed up.

Don

 

^^^ a voice of reason^^^

 

yeah, just pull the transmission off the engine, then reach in to the converter bolts with an open end wrench.

 

Yep, that'll fix it. Lol

 

I didn't say it was a good way, but it's a way

 

Is it possible the valve covers you changed are binding on your rockers ?

 

Sorry you are having bad luck but....you need to look at the big picture. The way it's going, GM can claim the damage was done by you in your effort to unstick it. So it may be time to call a wrecker.
With that said, if you know you screwed up and it's all on you anyway, you might as well try to fix it. If it's GMs fault let GM handle it.

 

X2, well said!! It's like talking to my ex-wife.

 

So logic tells me if if turned to install the converter bolts, then try to backtrack steps until it turns again, if you can remember the order you put it together. Either way it seems to be something external not a problem with engine internals.

 

I'm with the comments of removing the starter... If you turned it over by hand and got to all the bolts and then it locked up as soon as you hit the key perhaps starter is engaged and bound up.... I would begin there

 

I'm on board with the converter not being correctly seated when it was tightened to the flexplate. I also would't squirt WD-40 into/onto any machined surface, such as the cylinders, as it's hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. It could rust the cylinders, although I don't think that's what is going on here. You're going to have to free up the converter somehow; I don't see how it could be much else. You've pulled the plugs, so it's probably not hydro locked. While the inspection cover is off the trans to loosen the converter, you can also evaluate the starter to flexplate clearance. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

what if the converter bolts are the problem, hitting the block?

 

What color socks were you wearing when you installed the engine???

 

!!!!! FIXED !!!!! the problem all along ended up being the darn starter motor! the starter solenoid was not returning the drive gear back in place. I missed it, because when I took flexplate cover off it would bump the starter enough to release it some times. I had to pry the starters drive gear off the flexplate with a huge flat head, and know it spins freely!!!! Thank you all for your help, it really helped me out and put me in the right direction as to where to look. I guess now I need to get a better starter. any recommendations??? Thanks guys!!!

 

You need to see where the problem really is. You've got the big what if negative excitement past you now

A Jambed up gear should still let engine spin with a breaker bar. It should also spin with the starter but the flywheel might not the drive gear go.

 

IIRC, some GM starters req'd a shim or spacer where it mounts up.
And some (not all) had a forward brace or bracket to help keep the starter stable.

 

Do you know how to check for clearance when you mount the starter?

 

shim it down until a 1/8 drill bit fits between the meshed gears...a new starter, while it may "fix" the problem, may not be necessary

 

Not really no, how do I go about it? Thanks.

 

One time I had too long fly wheel bolts, and that prevented the engine from turning, did you have the fly wheel off?

 

Here you go.

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/gm_starter.pdf

 

never mind...saw that you got it fixed

 

Thank you

 

OH BOY !

 

I knew had to something simple because I have one of those same motors (260hp) from jegs and they are run before they are shipped from factory, now then I would almost bet a $1to a donut hole that the starter and the fly or flexplate don't match. if it worked with the other eng and the flywheel is only difference, tom

 

That was my guess when I read your first post, ( ask me how I know) glad you got it sorted out.